Just wanted to add this news article from today for the next time someone with little winter driving experience writes in, planning to do a road trip through Norway in December: https://www.nrk.no/osloogviken/underkjolt-regn-skaper-speilblanke-veier-1.16225949

No, even the main roads are not always safe to drive in wintertime. The article describes that the best and most traveled road in the south is currently closed. I crossed the mountains from east to west this weekend, and it was hell. Luckily, I made it before it was limited to convoy driving. But some parts were almost impossible with spikeless winter tires. I had to keep the speed low enough to not slide of the roads in the narrow curves, but high enough to not lose traction. If the car had stopped, I would not have been able to get it moving upwards again, and reversing all the way down the mountain side would have been dangerous.

And, even if you are a decent winter driver, you could meet one of these: https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/lastebil-stoppet-med-helt-nedslitte-dekk_-hadde-ikke-gyldig-forerkort-_-blir-anmeldt-1.16226511

5 comments

  1. I’m all for studless winter tyres around cities and towns, but as soon as elevation/mountains/less traveled roads are involved I feel like studded tyres are a must.

  2. I drove last November through the mountains with the first snow of the season. It was madness, trucks slipped off road. We had to descent on a mountain pass while it was already dark. Felt more like a sleigh ride then driving a car

  3. I don’t think it’s that bad so long as you keep a low speed. I don’t drive much above 60 km/hr on curvy country roads. I feel way safer on them than I do on the Highway. It’s crazy to me that people drive above 90 km/hr on E18 when it’s slippery and showing.

    Anyway as long as you take it slow you’re fine.

    I grew up on a steep mountain and the only time I had issues being able to keep moving was in the incredibly steep hills up the mountain, but even then I’ve actually never gotten stuck in my entire life, even driving a 2WD car. You just have to feel when the car grips the road and when it don’t. Anyway, the main thing I’d recommend anyone going for a longer drive during winter, especially in mountainous areas here, is driving a 4WD car. Way better traction up the mountains.

  4. I would say patience is key when driving in winter conditions, something i do activly while driving is use the gears when going down hill this also include automatics. i believe its called engine breaking, its when you keep the gears engaged at a certain speed where the engine will start to slow down the car. only relying on brakes on roads can be very dangerous and it will put alot of wear on the breaks for when you need them.
    now where i live i use studded tire exclusively because we have solid ice on the roads during winter, i also have a good jacket(minimum windproof), gloves and a shovel as well.
    Edit: Not sure why i got downvoted on this to be honest, but if it is the studded tires bit, know that i dont have any asphalt in 10 km reach, so most if my commute is on dirt roads.

  5. Guys, i have been driving studless for 20 year. If there is much snow its not going to help any way. If there is so much ice on the road. Dont drive.

Leave a Reply